Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores An ambulance heading out from Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

The borough's only remaining operating hospital, Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, has already seen huge spikes in 911 patients and emergency room admissions in the run-up to Hurricane Irene.

Both the Ocean Breeze and Prince's Bay campuses of Staten Island University Hospital closed down and evacuated on Friday.

RUMC has been preparing since Wednesday and Thursday, and has trained for major emergencies, said Rosemarie Stazzone, the hospital's senior vice president for patient care and chief nursing officer. "I do believe we are as ready as we can be."

RUMC has seen roughly twice as many patients from 911 calls as the 40 to 50 they normally receive, said Ms. Stazzone.

The emergency department has seen roughly 270 patients, compared to a typical 200, she said.

"The response by the staff is overwhelming," she said. "They've rallied to support the people of Staten Island, staying on for extra shifts. And the physicians' response has been phenomenal. We've added 38 more beds, and have more if we need them. We'll be here through Monday."

The hospital had also asked Rep. Michael Grimm's office to ask the city for additional resources -- a generator with diesel fuel, 40 or more cots, three or four floodlights to illuminate the area around the emergency room, flashlights, batteries, and a stepped up FDNY and NYPD presence.

One piece of good news is that "there is no elective surgery scheduled because it's the weekend," said Dr. Pietro Carpenito, chair of the anesthesia department and senior vice president for medical affairs. "We are a trauma center, and we have a trauma plan in place." He, too, saluted the hospital staff. "We didn't have to twist anyone's arm (to show up for duty)," he said.

RUMC officials told the Advance that Staten Island has 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 residents -- the lowest rate in all of NYC. With SIUH shuttered, the rate declined precipitiously to .9 beds per 1,000 people.